Requirements For The Master's of Education In Language and Literacy
General Degree Requirements for the Master's of Education in Language & Literacy
A total of 33 graduate hours is the minimum required for the M.Ed. in Language and Literacy. At least 18 of the required 33 graduate hours must be taken in courses numbered "700" or above. Additionally, students pursuing the M.Ed. in Language and Literacy shall be required to successfully complete the Comprehensive Examination for the Master's degree in Language and Literacy (see attached description of the examination), and maintain at least a "B" average in all coursework taken. Twelve hours of grades below B will disqualify a student for the M.Ed. in Language & Literacy.
Specific Degree Requirements for the Master's of Education in Language & Literacy
Students pursuing the M.Ed. in Language & Literacy are required to successfully complete graduate coursework in three basic areas:
A. Core Requirements
Reading
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EDRD 600 Foundations of Literacy Instruction
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EDRD 715 Instructional Strategies for Reading
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EDRD 716 Foundations of Reading Assessment
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EDRD 718 Seminar in Classroom Reading Assessment
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EDRD 719 Developing and Guiding the Reading Program
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EDRD 720 Capstone Seminar in Language & Literacy
Writing
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EDEL 771 Methods of Teaching Writing (or)
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EDSE 787 Teaching of Composition in the Secondary School
Research
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EDRM 700 Introduction to Research in Education
EDRD 600, EDRD 715, EDRD 716, EDRD 718, EDRD 719, and EDRD 720 must be taken in their proper sequence during the student’s program. No more than six hours of graduate credit in Language and Literacy courses from other institutions shall be transferred and counted toward the M.Ed. degree in Language & Literacy. A maximum of 12 hours in graduate credit can be transferred and counted toward the M.Ed. A maximum of six semester hours of professional development courses may be a part of the graduate degree program of study provided that the assigned academic advisor approves the inclusion of such courses. Students who wish to include such courses on their academic program are advised to furnish to their advisor course syllabi and other relevant documentation of the academic integrity of the aforementioned courses.
Description of Field Experiences and Practica.
Each candidate must enroll in two three-hour practicum experiences. In the first course, EDRD 716, candidates work one-on-one with an individual who is struggling as a reader. In the second course, EDRD 718, candidates work with small reading groups. In both courses, candidates have the opportunity to observe peers and debrief their observations. Supervision from language and literacy faculty provides an ongoing professional dialogue about the relationship between assessment and instructional decision-making.
Because field experiences ar essential to deepen and extend class engagements, all M.Ed. in Language and Literacy students are required to spend three hours per week per semester in schools during the time period designed for language and literacy learning. This practicum can take place in their classrooms or at one of the grade levels in which they plan to teach. One three-hour experience satisfies the requirement across all the M.Ed. Language and Literacy courses taken in a given semester.
B. Cognate
Three to six hours of graduate credit must be earned in language and literacy at the early childhood, elementary, or secondary level. The cognate area is designed to strengthen the area of specialization. The choice of the cognate area is left to the candidate in consultation with the advisor. Possible courses include the following:
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EDEC 744 Language Acquisition in the Learning Environment
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EDEC 745 Emergent Literacy
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EDEL 670 Language Arts in the Elementary School
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EDRD 650 Teaching Reading Through a Literature Emphasis
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EDRD 796 Teaching Reading and Writing to ESOL Learners
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EDSE 786 The Teaching of Literature in the Secondary School
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EDSE 787 The Teaching of Composition in the Secondary School
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EDSE 788 The Teaching of the English Language in the Secondary School
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EDSE 789 The English Teacher and Special Problems in Reading
C. Elective
Three to six hours of graduate credit must be earned in the elective area not limited to language and literacy; however, coursework should relate to area of specialization. Possible courses include the following:
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EDFN 749 School in Modern Society
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EDRD 650 Teaching Reading Through a Literature Emphasis
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EDTE 731 Integration of Technology and Instruction
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EDEC 744 Language Acquisition in the Learning Environment
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EDEC 745 Emergent Literacy
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EDEL 670 Language Arts in the Elementary School
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EDEL 715 The Elementary School Curriculum
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EDPY 705 Human Growth and Development
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EDRD 796 Teaching Reading and Writing to ESOL Learners
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EDSE 789 The English Teacher and Special Problems in Reading
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EDTE 779 Multicultural Issues of Education